Electrostatic copying machine

Abstract

An electrostatic copying machine comprises a photosensitive screen having a number of fine openings therein, means for forming on the screen a primary electrostatic latent image corresponsing to an original image, an electrostatic attracting device for electrostatically attracting a recording material and moving said recording material in facing relationship with the surface of the screen on which the latent image is formed, a device for supplying the recording material to the electrostatic attracting device, and means for forming a secondary electrostatic latent image on the recording material conveyed by the attracting device.

We claim: 
     
       1. An electrostatic copying machine comprising: a photosensitive screen having a number of fine openings therein;   means for exposing a surface of said screen to an original image at an image exposure position for forming on said screen a primary electrostatic latent image corresponding to an original image;   electrostatic attracting means for electrostatically attracting a recording material and conveying said material to a recording position adjacent said exposed surface of said photosensitive screen at said exposure position, after said formation of said primary electrostatic latent image;   means for supplying the recording material to said electrostatic attracting means; and   means for forming a secondary electrostatic latent image on said recording material at said recording position.   
     
     
       2. An electrostatic copying machine comprising: a substantially stationary photosensitive screen having a number of fine openings therein;   means for exposing a surface of said screen to image light to form a primary electrostatic latent image corresponding to an original image on said screen;   electrostatic attracting means for electrostatically attracting a recording material and conveying said material to a recording position opposing said surface of said screen after formation of said primary electrostatic latent image thereon;   means for supplying the recording material to said electrostatic attracting means; and   means for forming a secondary electrostatic latent image on the recording material at said recording position.   
     
     
       3. An electrostatic copying machine according to claim 2, wherein said attracting means includes a reciprocating member for conveying said recording material to said recording position from a position adjacent said supply means. 
     
     
       4. An electrostatic copying machine according to claim 2, wherein said electrostatic attracting means includes back-tension reel means, and an electrostatic attracting member wound around said reel means for being unwound therefrom to move said recording material to said recording position, and for being subsequently rewound by the back-tension of the reel. 
     
     
       5. An electrostatic copying machine according to claim 2, wherein said attracting means includes an endless member, means for moving said endless member between a retracted position and said recording position, and means for rotating the endless member, wherein the recording material is conveyed by rotation of the endless member from said supply means to said recording position. 
     
     
       6. An electrostatic copying machine according to claim 2, wherein said electrostatic attracting means comprises an electrostatic attracting member including a high resistance layer having first and second conductive layers disposed on opposite sides thereof, and wherein said second conductive layer comprises a plurality of interconnected conductive projections extending from said high resistance layer, said electrostatic attracting member being effective to attract the recording material upon application of a voltage to said two conductive layers on the opposite sides of said high resistance member. 
     
     
       7. An electrostatic copying machine according to claim 6, wherein said second conductive layer of said electrostatic attracting member is in the form of a net. 
     
     
       8. An electrostatic copying machine according to claim 6, wherein said second conductive layer of said electrostatic attracting member is in the form of substantially equidistant lines. 
     
     
       9. An electrostatic copying machine comprising: a substantially stationary photosensitive screen having a number of fine openings therein;   means for exposing a surface of said screen to image light to form a primary electrostatic latent image coresponding to an original image on said screen;   electrostatic attracting means for electrostatically attracting a recording material and conveying said material to a recording position opposing said surface of said screen after formation of said primary electrostatic latent image thereon, said attracting means including an endless attracting member and means for moving said member from a retracted position to said recording position;   means for supplying the recording material to said electrostatic attracting means; and   means for forming a secondary electrostatic latent image on the recording material at said recording position.   
     
     
       10. An electrostatic copying machine comprising: a substantially stationary photosensitive screen having a number of fine openings therein;   means for exposing a surface of said screen to image light to form a primary electrostatic latent image corresponding to an original image on said screen;   electrostatic attracting means for electrostatically attracting a recording material and conveying said material to a recording position opposing said surface of said screen after formation of said primary electrostatic latent image thereon, wherein said attracting means includes a flexible endless member, a stationary roller for stretching said endless member, and a movable roller for moving said endless member from a retracted position to said recording position;   means for supplying the recording material to said electrostatic attracting means; and   means for forming a secondary electrostatic latent image on the recording material at said recording position.   
     
     
       11. An electrostatic copying machine comprising: a photosensitive screen having a number of fine openings and including a conductive member, a photoconductive member provided on said conductive member, and a surface insulating member provided on said photoconductive member, said photoconductive and surface insulating members covering at least a substantial part of said conductive member;   means for exposing a surface of said screen to an original image at an image exposure position for forming a primary electrostatic latent image of an original on said screen, said primary image forming means including primary voltage applying means, secondary voltage applying means and an optical system for projecting therethrough an image of the original upon said screen;   electrostatic attracting means for electrostatically attracting a recording material and conveying said material to a recording position adjacent said exposed surface of said screen at said exposure position, after said formation of said primary electrostatic latent image;   means for supplying the recording material to said electrostatic attracting means; and   means for forming a secondary electrostatic latent image on said recording material at said recording position.   
     
     
       12. An electrostatic copying machine comprising: a substantially stationary photosensitive screen having a number of fine openings and including a conductive member, a photoconductive member provided on said conductive member, and a surface insulating member provided on said photoconductive member, said photoconductive and surface insulating members covering at least a substantial part of said conductive member;   means for exposing a surface of said screen to an original image for forming a primary electrostatic latent image of an original on said screen, said primary image forming means including primary voltage applying means, secondary voltage applying means and an optical system for projecting therethrough an image of the original upon said screen;   electrostatic attracting means for electrostatically attracting a recording material and conveying said material to a recording position adjacent said exposed surface of said screen after said formation of said primary electrostatic latent image;   means for supplying the recording material to said electrostatic attracting means; and   means for forming a secondary electrostatic latent image on said recording material at said recording position.   
     
     
       13. An electrostatic copying machine according to claim 12, wherein said attracting means includes an endless member, means for moving said endless member between a retracted position and said recording position, and means for rotating the endless member, wherein the recording material is conveyed by rotation of the endless member from said supply means to said recording position. 
     
     
       14. An electrostatic copying machine according to claim 12, wherein said attracting means includes a reciprocating member for conveying said recording material to said recording position from a position adjacent said supply means. 
     
     
       15. An electrostatic copying machine according to claim 12, wherein said electrostatic attracting means includes back-tension reel means, and an electrostatic attracting member wound around said reel means for being unwound therefrom to move said recording material to said recording position, and for being subsequently rewound by the back-tension of the reel. 
     
     
       16. An electrostatic copying machine according to claim 12, wherein said electrostatic attracting means comprises an electrostatic attracting member including a high resistance layer having first and second conductive layers disposed on opposite sides thereof, and wherein said second conductive layer comprises a plurality of interconnected conductive projections extending from said high resistance layer, said electrostatic attracting member being effective to attract the recording material upon application of a voltage to said two conductive layers on the opposite sides of said high resistance member. 
     
     
       17. An electrostatic copying machine comprising: a photosensitive screen having a number of fine openings therein;   means for exposing a surface of said screen to sequential color resolved portions of an original image at an image exposure position for sequentially forming on said screen a separate primary electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color resolved portion of the original image;   electrostatic attracting means for electrostatically attracting a recording material, wherein said attracting means conveys said material to a recording position adjacent said exposed surface of said photosensitive screen at said exposure position and then conveys said material away from said recording position, after each said formation of said separate primary electrostatic latent images;   means for supplying the recording material to said electrostatic attracting means;   means for forming a secondary electrostatic latent image on said recording material at said recording position, each time said material is conveyed thereto; and   means for developing each secondary electrostatic latent image formed on said recording material with a color developer corresponding to a respective resolved color each time said attracting means conveys said material away from said recording position.   
     
     
       18. An electrostatic copying machine comprising: a substantially stationary photosensitive screen having a number of fine openings therein;   means for exposing a surface of said screen to sequential color resolved portions of an original image for sequentially forming on said screen a separate primary electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color resolved portion of the original image;   electrostatic attracting means for electrostatically attracting a recording material, wherein said attracting means conveys said material to a recording position adjacent said exposed surface of said photosensitive screen and then conveys said material away from said recording position, after each said formation of said separate primary electrostatic latent images;   means for supplying the recording material to said electrostatic attracting means;   means for forming a secondary electrostatic latent image on said recording material at said recording position, each time said material is conveyed thereto; and   means for developing each secondary electrostatic latent image formed on said recording material with a color developer corresponding to a respective resolved color each time said attracting means conveys said material away from said recording position.   
     
     
       19. An electrostatic copying machine according to claim 18, wherein said developing means and said recording material conveyed by said attracting means are moved relative to each other as each secondary electrostatic latent image is developed with a respective color developer by said developing means. 
     
     
       20. An electrostatic copying machine according to claim 18, wherein said electrostatic attracting means comprises an electrostatic attracting member including a high resistance layer having first and second conductive layers disposed on opposite sides thereof, and wherein said second conductive layer comprises a plurality of interconnected conductive projections extending from said high resistance layer, said electrostatic attracting member being effective to attract the recording material upon application of a voltage to said two conductive layers on the opposite sides of said high resistance member. 
     
     
       21. An electrostatic copying maching according to claim 18, wherein said attracting means includes a reciprocating member for conveying said recording material to said recording position from a position adjacent said supply means. 
     
     
       22. An electrostatic copying maching according to claim 18, wherein said electrostatic attracting means includes back-tension reel means, and an electrostatic attracting member wound around said reel means for being unwound therefrom to move said recording material to said recording position, and for being subsequently rewound by the back-tension of the reel.